Aggies BlitZ: What to watch vs. Florida International

COLLEGE STATION — We can no longer joke that the Aggies need to be careful of looking past SFA to Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Tech to Florida International and so forth … it’s legitimate this time.

The Aggies need to be careful not to look past Florida International to Oklahoma State. First things first, and the elaborately-named Golden Panthers are first, starting 6 p.m. tonight at Kyle Field. A few things to watch for (I apologize for the wording for those not at Kyle Field) against FIU, which lost at home to Rutgers 19-14 a week ago:

Will the Aggies clean up their special teams?

A&M fumbled four times on special teams – losing three – last week against Louisiana Tech, all in the first half. Randy Bullock also missed a chip-shot field goal. The Aggies cleaned up their act in the second half – let’s see if it continues tonight. And will Kenric McNeal (separated shoulder) be back and ready to return punts? The Aggies missed him dearly in game two.

Is Von Miller 100 percent?

No – the senior linebacker told me this week his ankle at times “is killing me,” and an injury like this is something he’s rarely had to deal with in the past. He should play tonight, but the Aggies need Miller most starting Sept. 30 at OSU.

How’s FIU’s defense?

The Panthers finished 119th out of 120 teams last year in total defense. Through one game this season, they rank second nationally. Better enjoy that one while they can. FIU has a new coordinator in Geoff Collins, former Central Florida linebackers coach, and the Panthers were big on confusion and being all over the place a week ago against Rutgers. The Aggies have one big advantage over Rutgers, however: game tape. OK, maybe the Aggies have a few big advantages over Rutgers.

Will the Aggies run like the wind?

Mike Sherman has said it’s a priority for A&M to establish the run early, as the Aggies haven’t done in their first two games. Will the A&M offense be patient enough to feed Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray early and often tonight? The Aggies rushed for 216 yards against La. Tech, but 67 of those came on one second-half run by Michael, and Jerrod Johnson also scrambled for 50.

Will Jeff Fuller break the school touchdown catches record?

Does Billy Idol dance with himself? Early in his junior year, the 6-foot-4 Fuller already has tied Bob Long’s mark of 19 touchdowns set from 1966-68. It’s just a matter of time before Fuller snaps the 42-year-old record — and I predict it happens tonight. On a fade pass over a shorter defensive back. I asked Long, a real-estate broker in Fort Worth, on Friday night if he was coming in for the game. He said maybe.

What say you Bob French?

KBTX-TV’s venerable weatherman calls for temperatures in the 90s around kickoff, on what should be a dry night in Aggieland.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 39, FIU 13

I guessed A&M 42, La. Tech 10 last week. The final? 48-16. I nailed the 32-point difference, anyway. P.S.: As usual, I’ll conduct a live chat from the press box tonight on mysa.com and chron.com.